Patino Diet involves eating low glycemic index foods

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. (WJBK) - For many, bread is the staple that starts your day at breakfast and surrounding some deli meat, it's lunch. However, doctor turned author Frank Patino says it's time to start paying attention to what happens to our bodies when we load up on foods like breads, rice, potatoes and sweets. They're high on the glycemic index. That means they cause our blood sugar to shoot up, triggering an insulin release. Insulin tells our bodies to store fat.

In his book "The Age of Globesity," Patino says you've got to eat foods that are 55 or lower on the glycemic index.

"If you look at the numbers and you stay below 55, you can keep your blood sugar levels low, which keeps your insulin levels low, which, in fact, allows you to burn body fat. You stay lean, and it prevents your insulin receptors from down regulating and becoming resistant, which is what causes type 2 diabetes," the doctor says.

Here is an idea of how the glycemic index shapes up, according to the Patino Diet. Broccoli is a 30. A banana is 55. French bread is 95, and beer is 110.

The Patino Diet calls for eating healthy fats, lean proteins and low GI foods.

"Most fruits and vegetables are very low on the glycemic index. Your green vegetables are basically very, very low. Most of your fruits are. Even cherries that are very sweet are only 22 on the index. If you stay below 55 on the glycemic index, you're going to do well," Patino says.

If you would like to learn more about the Patino Diet, visit www.patinodiet.com

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By Deena Centofanti, Fox 2 News